Virginia CB Anthony Johnson Officially Declares for the NFL Draft

Virginia defensive again Anthony Johnson has formally entered his identify into the 2023 NFL Draft, he introduced on social media on Friday night time. 

A graduate scholar who simply completed his fifth season of faculty soccer, Johnson wasn’t anticipated to return as he had exhausted his eligibility. However, he made an official announcement on Twitter with the intention to have the possibility to thank everybody who helped him get up to now, together with his teammates and coaches at UVA and Louisville. 

“I wish to lengthen my gratitude to the coaches, trainers, and employees on the College of Louisville together with the College of Virginia for permitting me the chance to play the game I like on the collegiate stage,” Johnson stated within the publish. 

After spending 4 years at Louisville (together with a redshirt 12 months in 2017), Johnson transferred to Virginia in 2021, the place he made an instantaneous affect along with his infectious character and vocal management. 

Johnson had a strong season in 2021 with 9 move breakups and three interceptions, however he made an enormous leap this season with 51 tackles, 14 passes defended, and two interceptions. His improvement right into a lockdown nook was a key a part of Virginia’s general defensive enhancements. The Cavaliers had the third-best passing protection within the ACC this season after rating ninth in that class final season. 

Johnson’s 1.4 passes defended per recreation ranked eighth in all of FBS and 2nd within the ACC, solely trailing fellow UVA teammate Fentrell Cypress II. Johnson and Cypress teamed as much as produce a formidable cornerback duo and probably the greatest secondary models within the ACC this season. 

Johnson earned an invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and was named to the All-ACC First Staff, turning into the primary UVA defender to earn First-Staff All-ACC honors since Bryce Corridor in 2018. Johnson and Cypress (Second-Staff All-ACC) turned the primary cornerback duo to earn All-ACC honors in the identical season within the historical past of the Virginia soccer program. 

Johnson finishes his collegiate profession with 138 whole tackles, 38 passes defended, three pressured fumbles, and 7 interceptions. The following steps in his preparations for the NFL Draft would be the Reese’s Senior Bowl on February 4th, the UVA Soccer Professional Day someday in March, and if he receives an invitation, the NFL Mix from February twenty eighth via March sixth. 

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